Which place is cheaper, Nagoya or Lijiang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Lijiang or Nagoya?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Lijiang and Nagoya can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Lijiang or Nagoya?
Lijiang
Lijiang is a city in Southwestern China with a history of rule under the Mu family during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It played a key role along the Ancient Southern Silk Road, which started from Burma, crossed Lijiang, Shangri-La County, Tibet, journeyed through Iran, the Fertile Crescent, and ultimately to the Mediterranean Sea. The area was once a center for trade, politics, culture, and education, which is still evident in the rich culture seen today. Lijiang has also been the home of centuries to the Naxi people who still inhabit the area.
Nagoya
Nagoya is Japan's fourth-largest city after Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka, as well as one of the nation's major economic centers, being the home of auto giants like Toyota, Honda, and Mitsubishi Motors. With a history that dates back to samurai and ninja, Nagoya has evolved over the years into a trade center and hub for automobile and aircraft manufacturing. And it's also home to the Legoland resort!
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Luxury Tours to Japan, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Japan.
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Lijiang Prices
China PricesNagoya Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLijiang $55Nagoya $113
The average daily cost (per person) in Lijiang is $55, while the average daily cost in Nagoya is $113. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Lijiang and Nagoya in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLijiang $16Nagoya $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLijiang $32Nagoya $96
Compare Hotels in Lijiang and Nagoya
Looking for a hotel in Lijiang or Nagoya? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Nagoya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lijiang $5.67Nagoya $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lijiang
Also for Lijiang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Dali and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160
- Private Transfer from Lijiang to Shangri-La and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge: $159
- Private Transfer from Lijiang hotel/airport(LJG) to Dali : $149
- Ethnic Costume Photoshoot with Hotel Transfers: $131
- Lijiang Sanyi International Airport Chauffeur Service,Lijiang Airport Transfer: $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nagoya
Also for Nagoya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Departure Transfer : Nagoya City to Chubu Airport: $99
- Private Transfer from Nagoya hotels to Nagoya Cruise Port: $139
- Private Transfer from Nagoya Int Airport (NGO) to Nagoya Port: $285
- Private Transfer from Nagoya Cruise Port to Nagoya hotels: $139
- Private Transfer from Nagoya Cruise Port to Nagoya City Hotels: $126
- Private Transfer from Nagoya Cruise Port to Nagoya Airport (NGO): $201
- Private Transfer from Nagoya Airport (NGO) to Toyama Port: $235
- Private Transfer between Chubu Centrair Int'l Airport and Nagoya: $296
- Private Transfer - Nagoya Int Airport (NGO) to Nagoya Cruise Port: $201
- Private Transfer - Nagoya Cruise Port to Nagoya Int Airport (NGO): $285
- Private Departure Transfer Nagoya City to Chubu Centrair International Airport: $208
- Nagoya to Nagoya Int Airport NGO, Departure Private Transfer: $91
Is it cheaper to fly into Lijiang or Nagoya?
Prices for flights to both Nagoya and Lijiang change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayLijiang $30Nagoya $49
Typical Food Prices in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$4.21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lijiang Naxi Cuisine Cooking Class & Market Visit: $59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nagoya
For Nagoya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Nagoya Night Bar & Food Tour with Locals 【Private Tour】: $59
- Osu Kannon Temple & Street Food Tour in Nagoya's Osu District: $83
- Specialties of Nagoya Food Tour: $159
- Traditional Ukai Watching Private Tour from Nagoya With Dinner: $221
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lijiang $20Nagoya $13
Tours and Activities in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Baisha Village Private Tour: $245
- 1 Day Private Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang or Dali: $165
- 1 Day Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour from Lijiang or Shangri-La: $170
- 1-Day Private Tour to Lijiang Highlights: $297
- 2 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour by public coach: $189
- 3days Dali Lijiang highlights tour start from Kunming: $700
- 4 Hour Private Lijiang City Highlights Walking Tour: $72
- 7-Day Yunnan Culture & Nature Tour: $1,008
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang: $221
- Beautiful Country road Biking tour to Xinhua village Heqing start from Lijiang: $173
- Biking tour&guide visit Lijiang baisha village market park: $50
- Flexible Lijiang City Highlights Private Day Tour with Lunch: $208
Tours and Activities in Nagoya
For Nagoya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Buddhas at a Temple and Tea Ceremony Experience: $91
- 2 Hour Private Scenic Mountain Castle Tour in Gifu: $76
- A Fun Car Tour to Inuyama Castle and a Phallus: $160
- A tour to enjoy Japanese official gambling (horse racing, bicycle racing, pachinko): $72
- All-You-Can-Drink Sake Tasting Tour in Nagoya: $185
- Arimatsu townscape walk & aperture experience: Accompanying professional photographer: $138
- Atsuta Shrine Visit and Sweets Making Experience in Nagoya: $276
- Autumn Leaves Private Tour in Nagoya: $172
- Bus Tour to Hida Takayama and Shirakawa-go with Hida Pork Lunch : $81
- Experience Being a Shinto Priest or Shrine Maiden at NAGOYA: $45
- Experience the Soul of the Sword-smith : Samurai Spirit in Seki: $242
- From Nagoya Kyoto Day Tour with Kobe Beef Shabu Shabu Lunch: $93
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLijiang $7.98Nagoya $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Nagoya
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nagoya:
- The Nagoya Restaurant and Bar Crawl: $40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lijiang and Nagoya, we can see that Nagoya is more expensive. And not only is Lijiang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lijiang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lijiang and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Nagoya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nagoya than you might in Lijiang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lijiang Expensive? and Is Nagoya Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lijiang or Nagoya?
Nagoya has a larger population, and is about 93% larger than the population of Lijiang. When comparing the sizes of Lijiang and Nagoya, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.